View Tube Art: Sparked 2011-12

Inspired by the public art pieces in the London 2012 Olympic Park, Sparked is an eight-month educational exhibition series as part of the View Tube Art Education programme, from October 2011-May 2012. The View Tube sits on The Greenway in East London, next to the London 2012 Olympic Park, it is a community arts and education venue, with a cafe and bike hire. www.theviewtube.co.uk Sparked is funded by The Legacy List, a new charity established to support the long term cultural, social and physical regeneration of London’s future Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and its surroundings. www.thelegacylist.org.uk Sparked is supported by Bow Arts var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-24908637-2']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })();

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Here's a short film summarising the Sparked exhibition series, which ran as part of View Tube Art from October 2011 to May 2012.

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The sun finally came out for View Tube's fun day at the beginning of May 2012, which saw more free Sparked art workshops, as well as even more dynamic public readings of Spark Catchers from the poet Lemn Sissay.

Thanks to everyone who came down and gave View Tube and the Sparked series a great send off.  View Tube and public access to the Greenway is now closed, but we will be reopening in September 2012.

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More art workshops!

It has long been planned for View Tube to close over the summer months whilst the Olympics are on, reopening in September 2012.  To celebrate the success of View Tube, a family fun day takes place on Saturday May 12th, from 10am-4pm.  Along with lots of stalls, activities, and special Olympic guests, Sparked are delighted to be involved, offering more free art workshops for families.  Lemn Sissay will also be there to talk about Spark Catchers, and give public readings of the poem.

The Greenway has now been closed, so access to View Tube is only via Marshgate Lane (E15 2PJ).  Due to engineering works on the DLR, you will not be able to alight at Pudding Mill Lane. However, a rail replacement bus service is running, or you can easily hop on one of many buses, only 5 minutes from Stratford (25, 108, 276, 339, 425, D8, stop Marshgate Lane or Bow Flyover), or travel by bike or on foot.

Use www.tfl.gov.uk to plan your journey.

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Here's a selection of photos from our final Sparked family day, which took place on Saturday 14 April. It was fantastic to see so many of you there taking part in the free print making workshops and chatting with Lemn Sissay about his poem.

To see more photos from the day click here.

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We're excited about our family day tomorrow, and so are Time Out!

There's DLR engineering works, but a really short replacement bus service from Stratford 5 minutes down the road will get you here, and of course we're easily accessible by bike and foot!

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New flyer for family day - spread the word!

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Watch an interview with Lemn Sissay talking about his poem Spark Catchers, commissioned for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

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Sparked with Lemn Sissay opens this Friday 30 March at View Tube.

Created for a permanent poetry installation on the Olympic Park, Spark Catchers is Lemn Sissay’s poem celebrating the rich heritage of the East End where the Olympic Park now sits.

Spark Catchers delves into the incendiary time in 19th century Britain when the first un-unionised workers went on strike against their poor and dangerous working conditions. The industrial action taken at the Bryant and May match factory, found on the edge of the Olympic Park in Bow, helped spark a social revolution changing working conditions across Britain.

Sparked with Lemn Sissay celebrates this inspirational story and East London’s rich heritage as it welcomes the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, becoming another landmark in its captivating history.

The last in the Sparked exhibition series, the exhibition will run until View Tube's closure before the Olympic Games until May 16th.

Family Day - Saturday 14th April, 10am-3pm: free art workshops for families inspired by  Lemn Sissay's Sparked exhibition

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Our new flyer for the last Sparked exhibition, with the first poet commissioned for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Lemn Sissay

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From the activity sheet accompanying the current Sparked exhibition, here are two photos sent in by Leala and Nyle showing their favourite job on the Olympic Park. Great work guys!

Pick one up at View Tube, or download one here.

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Portraits of the Park - animation made as part of the February 2012 View Tube Sparked Family Day. 

During the View Tube Sparked Family Day in February 2012, families worked with tutors from The Prince's Drawing School and Olympic Park Artist in Residence Neville Gabie, to create portraits of the Olympic Park.

Each participant was given just 3mins 26secs to complete the task, the world record time for the 1500 metres. Over 200 drawings were created, then pieced together to make this unique animation.

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Lemn Sissay for final Sparked exhibition

We're absolutely delighted to announce that View Tube are working with renowned poet Lemn Sissay for the final exhibition in the Sparked series.  Working with curators from Jotta, Lemn's exhibition will be inspired by his poem Spark Catchers, commissioned for Art in the Park as part of the Winning Words project.

Opening on March 24th at View Tube.

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A selection of photos from our Family Day in February as part of the Sparked with Neville Gabie exhibition. Working with The Prince's Drawing School, participants were asked to draw a portrait of the Olympic Park in 3 minutes 26 seconds, the world record for 1500 metres. These are currently being made into a short animation incorporating everyone's drawings, offering a unique record of the Olympic Park, which will be uploaded shortly.

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Download Neville Gabie activity sheet here

As part of the latest Sparked exhibition with Neville, we've got a fantastic activity sheet for any person coming up to View Tube.  Taking you through each piece in the exhibition, there's also a fun activity for you to take part in, and contribute to a new piece of View Tube Art!

Download the activity sheet here

Photo showing some entries to the Sparked Challenge!

Don't forget you can also come along to our free family day on Saturday 18th February from 10am-3pm, where you can meet Neville Gabie yourself!

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Olympic film screening this Sunday 12 Feb

Don't forget our film screenings this Sunday 12th February of Neville Gabie's latest work Twelve Seventy.

With Neville’s unique access to the venues and workers on the Olympic Park, Twelve Seventy features exclusive footage and interviews on the Park.  We meet Olympic Park bus driver Sam as she swims the length of her bus route in the Aquatics Centre, andintroduces us to life ‘the other side of the fence’.   

*Please note, due to engineering works the DLR network is closed for the entire weekend on Sat 11/Sun 12 Feb.  You can still easily reach View Tube by foot or bicycle, with the nearest stop at Hackney Wick Overground, one stop from Stratford.  Check the TFL website to help plan your journey.*

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The poster for the Sparked Family Day next Saturday 18th February at View Tube.

Working with Olympic Park Artist in Residence, Neville Gabie, and artists from The Prince's Drawing School, take part in free activities, which will help make up an animation shown as part of the exhibition.

Email [email protected] to secure your place. Please spread the word to friends and family you think would like to take up this fantastic opportunity.

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Watch our new film in conversation with Neville Gabie, discussing his residency on the Olympic Park.